The Blockade of Porto Bello was a failed British naval action against the Spanish port of Porto Bello in present day Panama between 1726 and 1727 as part of the Anglo-Spanish War. The British were attempting to blockade the port to stop valuable treasure convoys leaving for Spain. After months spent on the ineffective and costly operation, during which not a single British shot was fired, on Admiralty orders, the British finally withdrew, with the loss from tropical disease of some 3,000 to 4,000 men from a complement of 4,750.